The following text (greatly Para-phrased) is from an
interview with Will Harris III, by Diego Footer. Diago has a podcast called Permaculture
Voices. This interview is from podcast episode
28: Industrial Farmer to Beyond Organic Icon, Will Harris III of White Oak
Pastures.
Some people say “Organic farming methods will never be able to feed the world’s growing population.”
I say…
That is an interesting statement, and I would like to discuss it with you. But before we have that discussion, I would like to stipulate and agree to the fact that neither “organic” farming systems, nor “conventional” farming systems will feed the world if the population grows indefinitely, forever. Certainly, the world has a maximum carrying capacity. Most people will agree to that point.
So then, I’ll concede to you right now, that conventional farming systems (e.g. centralized, commoditized, industrialized, mono-culture) can produce more food per acre, if land is the limiting factor. But, if fossil fuel becomes the limiting factor, then organic farming systems win – because organic farming systems easily produce more food per acre with much less fossil fuel usage. And if water becomes the limiting factor, then organic wins – because organic farming systems easily produce more food per acre with less water than conventional farming systems can. And if antibiotic resistant pathogens become the limiting factor, then organic wins again – because organic farming systems rely much less on antibiotics than conventional farming systems do. And if pollution becomes the limiting factor, then organic wins yet again – because organic systems pollute much less than conventional systems. And if environmental disasters (such as the dead-zone in the Gulf of Mexico) become the limiting factor, then organic wins again. And this can go on and on.
It is not as simple as coming to a conclusion based on current conditions alone. There are many factors involved, which may change in the future. Organic farming systems have more chances to win.
With that concept in mind, I started thinking about how
conventional farming systems currently work, the dependencies involved, and just
how fragile a system it really is. The quantity and complexities of these dependencies is vast.
The following list (rather dis-organized) is intended as
fodder – just to get you thinking about what could happen. If something would change with any one of
these items, or with multiple items, it could have a huge impact upon conventional
farming systems.
- Fossil fuel
- Current and future fossil fuel reserves
- consider the concept of “peak oil”
- Politics and wars with foreign countries where fossil fuels exist
- think about all the wars fought in the middle-east over oil
- The ability to safely extract fossil fuels
- remember the recent BP oil well disaster in the Gulf of Mexico
- consider “fracking” methods
- The ability to safely transport fossil fuels
- remember the Exxon Valdez oil spill
- think about the current Keystone XL pipeline controversy
- Government
- USDA, FDA, & EPA influences and regulations
- GMO labeling
- International Trade (free trade, tariffs, sanctions, Trans-Pacific Partnership, etc.)
- Food Freedom (think Raw Milk)
- Economy
- think great depression
- think recession of 2008
- think “housing crisis”, “banking crisis”, “energy crisis”
- Politics
- think Farm Bill
- think “do nothing congress”
- Technology
- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- Antibiotics
- Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.
- Green Energy (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, etc.)
- High-Tech products
- think tractors and combines that depend upon computers and GPS
- think chip implants into livestock
- Industries
- Oil/Energy
- AG Equipment (tractors, implements, etc.)
- Transportation/shipping (trucking, rail, air, sea, etc.)
- think about the current rail car shortage impacting corn producers
- Groceries/retail
- Stock Markets/Investments
- Banking
- Labor Unions
- Health Issues (possibly linked to chemical use by conventional farming methods)
- Diseases (e.g. cancer, diabetes, autism, obesity, etc.)
- Early puberty issues
- Environment
- Natural/normal weather patterns (storms, drought, fires, etc.)
- remember the October 4, 2013 blizzard in SD
- think about the droughts in TX, CA, etc.
- remember “Super Storm Sandy”
- Global warming
- think about changing growing seasons and zones (e.g. frost-safe dates, first-frost dates, min/max/avg temperatures, moisture rates, wind velocity, etc.)
- think about loss of farm land to flooding, population relocation, etc.
- Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder crisis
- Water (quantity, quality, etc.)
- remember West Virginia chemical spill
- remember Toledo water crisis
- think PowerTech Uranium Mining proposal
- Pollution
- Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
- Toxic waste from North Dakota Oil Fields
I’m certain you could add many more items to this list. Thinking about what could change with any one
item in the list, the probability of change, and how a change could impact the food
on your table (via conventional AG systems), is scary enough. Then think about a combination of changes in
multiple areas. Mind blowing!
For example, suppose someday IF someone proved that autism is caused by Roundup Ready BT corn. Wow! That would change the entire conventional farming system from top to bottom! Or imagine if the Ogallala aquifer became contaminated or experienced decreased production due to extended drought (like in TX or CA). Wow! That would change conventional farming greatly as well.
And yes, these potential changes could also impact organic
farming. But in all likelihood, to a
much lesser extent – especially if “organic” is combined with “local”. That is the way we put food on the table for ten thousand years, up until "conventional" farming methods developed within the last 100 years or so. And that is my point.
Do you still want to bet on conventional farming
as the best way to feed the world’s growing population?
Rick Grosek
Bear Butte Gardens
www.BearButteGardens.com
Rick@BearButteGardens.com
